Side-Impact (T-Bone) Car Accident Attorneys

If you or a loved one has been severely or critically injured in a side-impact collision due to another driver’s negligence, you may be unsure of how to move forward. Fortunately, this isn’t something you have to take on alone. A side-impact collision attorney at Kanner & Pintaluga may be able to assist. 

Our law firm’s aggressive car accident lawyers will zealously pursue maximum compensation on your behalf. We’ll fight hard so you and your family can recover from the accident with peace of mind. While our goal is to handle all the legal heavy lifting so you can heal, you should still understand a few things about your current situation. 

What Is a Side-Impact (T-Bone) Crash? 

Side-impact accidents, also known as broadside or t-bone collisions, typically occur at intersections when cross-traffic collides. Typically, one vehicle will hit somewhere along the side of the other vehicle. 

In most cases, these collisions result from one of the motorists failing to stop at an intersection. For instance, side-impact collision attorneys often help clients who sustained injuries when another driver ran a red light. 

Side-Impact vs. Sideswipe: Key Differences

People frequently confuse side-impact with sideswipe collisions. Sideswipes occur when two vehicles traveling parallel to each other collide, such as when drivers change lanes without seeing the car next to them or when they drift out of their lane. 

The danger is largely due to the location of the accident, as side-impact collisions most commonly occur on highways and freeways. High-speed limits and being surrounded by other vehicles traveling at a high rate of speed – coupled with the fact that it can be harder to check your blind spots in this environment – exponentially elevates the risk of a severe collision with a car in your blind spot.

Which Collision Type Is More Dangerous?

Due to their high-speed nature, side-impact accidents are among the most dangerous accident types, falling just under head-on collisions in terms of fatalities. Like side-impact collisions, however, the harm caused by these accidents depends on the circumstances of the crash. 

Some victims will walk away with seemingly minor injuries. Others will face years of recovery or worse. Regardless of your situation, speaking to a side-impact car accident attorney is likely in your best interest. 

At Kanner & Pintaluga, we are here to help. Contact us today for a free consultation. 

What To Do After a Side-Impact Crash 

It can be hard to think in the immediate aftermath of an accident, but what you do next can be crucial to fortifying the validity of your claim and protecting it against baseless assertions. If possible, move your car out of the way of traffic. This is critical for your safety and the safety of other motorists. 

After this, everything else you do will have a significant effect on your case. 

Seek Medical Care 

The best thing you can do for your claim is to see a doctor, even if you don’t think you need it. This serves two purposes:

1. Car crash injuries, especially internal injuries, aren’t always immediately obvious. Pain-nullifying adrenaline is running through your body at this point.
2. Medical professionals can provide you with records and certified documentation of your injuries that you can use to bolster your personal injury claim.

If you don’t seek medical treatment immediately, you could hinder the side-impact car accident claim process from the very start. 

Secure Documentation and Evidence

Medical documentation isn’t the only thing that you’ll need for a successful case. Make sure you contact law enforcement to ensure that a detailed accident report is filed. This gives you valuable evidence to bolster your claim and can also protect you from legal penalties.

In most states, you are legally required to report any accident that involves injuries, deaths, or property damage exceeding $500. Otherwise, you could risk fines and possibly jail time. Even if you call and the police don’t come to the scene, you’ll still need to file a written accident report in no less than ten days after the accident.

If possible, you should also take photos and videos of the scene. Document injuries, property damage, road conditions, hazards, and anything else you see on the scene.

Should I Speak to the Other Driver?

Beyond exchanging the legally required contact and insurance information, you should minimize any discussion of the accident with the other drivers involved. A lawsuit may be the last thing on your mind after an accident, but it’s always a potential outcome. 

Refraining from saying anything about what caused the crash or who was at fault to the other driver could strengthen future legal efforts. The other driver could potentially use even an offhand “sorry” against you later. This makes it critical to keep things cordial but non-detailed. 

Next Steps

It’s also important to notify your insurance provider. However, be very careful in doing so. Insurers can use anything you say against you, even if you were confused about what happened. That’s why you should also consult with an experienced car crash injury attorney as soon as possible. 

An experienced T-bone accident lawyer at our personal injury law firm can help you through the legal process, liaising with insurance companies while we work to maximize your possible compensation. Sustaining a serious injury is a massive burden, but it’s not one you have to carry on your own.

We’re here to help.